Life, 1915-07-22 · page 21 of 44
Life — July 22, 1915 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page addresses American neutrality during World War I, likely 1915-1916. The cartoon shows a German soldier stepping on a mine labeled "GOTT IN HIMMEL! ENGLISH FIOLETS!" (God in heaven! English violets!)—a dark joke about German casualties inflicted by British naval power. The text debates whether the U.S. should accommodate German submarine warfare by separating American passengers from munitions shipments. The author argues against appeasing Germany, contending that British naval superiority currently protects neutral trade and freedom. They criticize Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan (referenced as "Mr. Bryan") for suggesting such accommodations. The page also mentions Jane Addams and Judge Gary's views on ending the war through neutral mediation—positioning them as somewhat naive about the conflict's intractability. The satire mocks both German aggression and American isolationist tendencies, while defending British sea power as a practical necessity for international order.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Sonn Baie ——— “coTt IN HIMMEL! He is not willing to gratify the pro- Germans to the extent of putting an embargo on arms and ammunition, but he would have us accommodate ourselves to their submarine warfare by separating American passengers from contraband, and especially am- munition, But that would be to change our sea-going rules in war time to favor Germany, and that, if we are to take the exclusively American view that Mr. Bryan approves, would be a dangerous proceeding. American individuals can avoid cargo ships and contraband if they choose, and probably do, but our government cannot direct ” ENKLISH FIOLETS! them to, nor avoid responsibility for their protection if they make their travels conform to the rules of inter- national law. If we are to think as neutrals, mind- ful only of our own immediate inter- ests (which is not at all the way most of us are thinking), we will do well to think a little of the British sea power which Germany’s submarine activities are directed to destroy. But do we want it destroyed? Theoreti- cally it is no more right that Bri- tannia should rule the waves than that Germania should be the world bully ashore, but practically Britannia and 157 her blessed navy are at this moment the mainstay of the freedom of the nations, and but for them Germany would not be at these pains to write notes to us, but would do as she liked with no more concern for our views than she had for Belgium's. For a generation Britannia has been the great marine policeman. As trading neutrals we don’t want her efficiency in that employment to be too much impaired until there is in sight a competent substitute to do for us and others what she has been doing. Look- ing off from any high point on this continent, the great operating check to German world-dominion is seen to be British sea power. If Germany, by provision of new scraps of paper not to be torn up until she gets ready, could make the seas safe for trade, war or no war, where would Freedom, or any other deserving party, look for help the next time Germany has a brainstorm? No, Mr. Bryan; no, brethren all. As thoughtful neutrals let us not accom- modate Germania quite yet by sub- mission to her new sea rules. Better let this war go through under the rules it began with. ISS JANE ADDAMS was much impressed with the of mind of Europe. She has seen much, talked much and brought back profound impressions, One of them was the impression of a disturbance too big to be handled by the people engaged in it. So she is for having some kind of a commission of neu- trals that will try to help the warring nations to make peace. Judge Gary thinks the war will end sooner than is supposed, and that peace, when it comes, will pop out unexpected-like. He thinks so because he thi ks the war is so bad the bel- ligerents can’t stand it much longer. And Miss Addams says they can't stop it and it is for neutrals to help them out. The Judge seems a very suitable neutral to be on Miss Addams's commission, very state